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Y oga - Asanas

HALASANA

Plow Posture. This Asana is a forward-bending posture, strengthening the back and neck. It helps blood circulation in general, relieves back tension and constipation as well. Over time, it enhances mental poise and relaxation.

MATSYASANA

Fish Posture. This Asana helps stretch the thoracic and lumbar region and encourages the lungs to expand and fill with air. It therefore helps in Asthma and other respiratory problems, stimulates the pituitaries and improves blood supply in the lumbar region. It is believed to help in states of mental agitation as well.

Pranayama

Pranayama is the yogic technique to bring the breathing in regularity, rhythmic and balanced. Lots of techniques are involved in pranayama. Generally, pranayama is defined as breath control. The word pranayama is comprised of two roots: Prana plus Ayama.

Prana means 'vital energy' or life force. Pranayama should not be considered as mere breathing exercises aimed at introducing extra oxygen into the lungs. It utilizes breathing to influence the flow of prana in the nadis or energy channels of the pranamaya kosha or energy body.

The word Ayama is defined as "extension" or expansion. Thus, the word pranayama means extension or expansion of the dimension of prana.

PRANA AND LIFESTYLE

Life style has profound impact on the pranamaya kosha and its pranas. Physical activities such as exercise, work, sleep, intake of food and sexual relations, all affect the distributing of flow of prana in the body. Faculties of the mind such as emotion, thought and imagination affect the pranic body even more. Irregularities in life style, dietary indiscretions and stress, deplete and obstruct the pranic flow. This result in what the people experience as being drained of energy.

BREATH, HEALTH AND PRANAYAMA

The breath is the most vital process of the body. It influences the activities of each and every cell and most importantly, is intimately linked with the performance of the brain. In addition to influencing the quality of the life, the length or the quantity of life is also dictated by the rhythm of the respiration. Slow breathing promotes increased human lifespan. Those who breathe in short, quick gasps are likely to have a shorter life span than those who breathe slowly and deeply. A slow breathing rate keep the heart stronger and better nourished and contributes to a longer life. Deep breathing also increases the absorption of energy by the pranamaya kosha enhancing dynamism, vitality and general well being.

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